CEDAR RAPIDS -- Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean kept up his frontal assault on Republicans Saturday and urged Iowa Democrats to go toe-to-toe with the GOP on "values" issues.

"We are not going to be afraid to talk about moral values," the former Vermont governor told 500 Democrats gathered for the party's Hall of Fame banquet.

"If you match our moral values against their moral values, we win. The Bible talks about helping the poor 3,000 times. I have yet to find gay marriage mentioned anywhere in the Bible," Dean said.

It was Dean's first trip to Iowa since finishing third in the state's presidential caucuses last year. The last speech Dean delivered on an Iowa stage included his infamous televised scream.

"Right after we leave here we're going to be going to Michigan and Mississippi and Ohio," Dean joked, mimicking the lead up to his famous yell.

But few in the friendly crowd of party activists, office-holders and would-be office-holders seemed to care much about recent controversy surrounding their embattled national chairman.

Dean ended the week in Iowa after beginning it San Francisco, where he argued the Republican Party is "pretty much a white Christian Party." That remark, and another statement charging that most Republicans have "not made an honest living in their lives" drew indignation from Republicans and some Democrats.

Dean didn't back down Saturday.

"We need to be blunt and clear about the things we're going to fight for. And we are going to fight," Dean said. "I'm tired of lying down in front of this Republican machine."

Dean criticized Republican efforts to reform Social Security and to alter national energy policy. He said Democrats must win the debate on issues and mount an aggressive national campaign to counter GOP successes.

Democrats interrupted the speech several times to stand and applaud.

"I think it's much ado about nothing," said State Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington of the criticism aimed at Dean. "But on the other hand I think it's time our party did some things to fire people up. We've been acting like Republicans for too long."

Dee Brandt of Oelwein caucused for Dean last January and still supports him. "He's a great person to fire people up. People who know him know what he's doing and stand behind him," she said.

Susan Pamperin, chairwoman of the Scott County Democratic Party, insists the national chairman is not doing damage when he takes sharp shots at Republicans.

"He's not doing his job unless he makes some remarks that catch some attention. I think he's doing a fine job," Pamperin said.

U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell offered up Dean's autographed necktie in an impromptu auction. It fetched $1,100.

"I tell you what, we can use some of your passion. Bring it on," Boswell said.

Contact Todd Dorman at (515) 243-0138 or todd.dorman@lee.net.